Discuss the potential problems with vegetarianism and vitamin B12 deficiency

Answer 1

Vegans are at special risk for undetected vitamin B12 deficiency for two reasons: first, they receive none in their diets, and second, they consume large amounts of folate in the vegetables they eat. Because the body can store many times the amount of vitamin B12 used each day, a deficiency may take years to develop in a new vegetarian. When a deficiency does develop, though, it may progress to a dangerous extreme because the deficiency of vitamin B12 may be masked by the high folate intake. Worldwide, vitamin B12 deficiency among vegetarians is a growing problem. A pregnant or lactating vegetarian woman who eats no foods of animal origin should be aware that her infant could develop a vitamin B12 deficiency, even if the mother appears healthy. Breastfed infants born to vegan mothers with low concentrations of vitamin B12 in their breast milk can develop severe neurological symptoms such as seizures and cognitive problems.